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As strong storms rolled through the Bluegrass region this past weekend, some areas in Owen County saw as much as 4-7 inches of rain, causing flash flooding to small streams and creeks, making some county roads impassable.
Owen County Judge-Executive Casey Ellis toured some of the flooded areas Sunday to get a first-hand assessment of any damages.
“We had one home flooded on Old Sparta Road,” Ellis said.
Unlike the spring flash floods that caused damage to some county roads, Ellis said roads were left undamaged this time.

Throughout his decades-long career in public service, Capt. Charles Phillips has received numerous awards and recognition, but none can compare to the accolade he received shortly after his retirement from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife July 31.
Phillips, a 1985 graduate of Owen County High and a former Owen County sheriff’s deputy, rose through the ranks to become commander over Kentucky’s sixth wildlife district — which includes all of Owen County — and, upon his retirement was awarded the “Eagle Award.”

Following an unattended public hearing Aug. 29, the Owen County Board of Education unanimously approved a 4-percent tax increase for 2018-19.
The property and tangible rates were set at 65.9 cents per $100 of assessed value -- up 2.6 cents from last year.
In recent years, Owen County School Superintendent Rob Stafford said the board had taken the 4-percent increase about every other year, having taken the compensating rate last year.
The total general fund revenue expected in 2019 on property taxes is just under $3.5 million.

Over the next few weeks passersby on U.S. Hwy. 127 N. in Owen County will catch a glimpse of 1,500 brightly-colored mums. For its grower, the flower — a fall staple across the country — has all but replaced a crop that was once considered king in Kentucky.

Real estate and personal property tax rates in Owen County will remain the same in 2018-19 as they were for 2017-18.
The Owen County Fiscal Court voted unanimously Aug. 28, to hold the tax rate on real property at 12.2 cents per $100 of assessed value. That means the owner of a home valued at $100,000 will pay $122 in county taxes this year.
The personal property tax rate also remained the same, at 13.4 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The owner of the Owenton McDonald’s has released a brief statement after an employee was infected with hepatitis A last week.
Grant Groen, the owner and operator of the fast-food restaurant, thanked Three Rivers District Health Department for its partnership throughout the cleaning and reopening process.

A decades-old tradition will be given new life this month when the Owen County High School football teams rolls through town for its annual homecoming parade.
In addition to the football team, OCHS Athletics Director T.J. Wesselman said all fall sports teams -- boys and girls soccer, boys and girls golf, volleyball and cross-country -- would each have a respective float and will be recognized during the pep rally that follows the parade on the Owen County Courthouse lawn.

Update: 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 29: WALMART PHARMACY TO HOLD HEPATITIS A CLINIC AT LONG RIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY CENTER
Walmart Pharmacy will be holding a hepatitis A clinic from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday (Aug. 30), at the Long Ridge Baptist Church Family Center. Organizers of the clinic suggest bringing your insurance cards for zero co-pay. Medicaid patients age 19 and over only. Cash-paying patients will be charged $79. Long Ridge Baptist Church is located at 3575 US Hwy. 127.